Disclaimer

Loving Ajax

I fell in love with Ajax. Whew! my last post regarding CMS and web development was June 2008 and yet i have not added anything new. Been really busy in learning new things and working in an 8am-5pm job.

Since I started to used CakePHP framework i learned some basic and advance features of Cakephp. Now, i've already tried to create a directory page rendered in AJAX. By the way, Cakephp is using Prototype.js and Scriptaculous which is one of the most popular AJAX framework/Web 2.0 javascript.

Once you started to use AJAX based webpage, you would like to put it all to your website. Since the evolution of AJAX, developers enjoyed it but without being noticed by users.

Anyway, to users who haven't noticed about AJAX effects here's some sample features:

• Displaying contents without even forwarding to the next page.
  
• Web-based chat features like Google Talk and Yahoo Mail Chat
  
• Ability to drag and drop photos and other objects.
  

There's a lot more AJAX features that we're enjoying nowadays and once i have a web project i'll put some AJAX stuff too.

Anyway, this is just a few thoughts about AJAX and I'll be posting more about this topic once i mastered it. Though i'm using it on CakePHP framework, i'll explore it on non-framework based PHP so i can differentiate it too.

So, till next blogging..

Taken 2 yrs ago..They get tired too.

Photo taken two years ago around August 25,2006.

Here's a picture of the boy that was so tired that he didn't even noticed that he was so asleep from waiting for people that will go out from the bar to ask for food, money or anything.

I was drunk the time that i took this picture. Maybe he's drunk too hehe..

I believed that this boy just couldn't make it through the night to keep on waiting for graces. But take note, he's just taking a nap, as soon as he's awake again he will continue from what he does. Just share him a penny he will stop bothering you (Though he will ask from your companion too hehe) Anyway, this only shows that poverty in Philippines is not just in Metro Cities but also in small cities.


Well, poverty isn't just in the Philippines but it's a global concern. Can't say anything else bout this picture.

Links

For frequent visitors, you would noticed that I have changed of my template again. Well, I'm already satisfy with the last template that I used but lately I was having problem with arranging my layout elements due to some experimentation I did. It gives me an error which I don't have much time debugging it. That decided me to give my blog a new look instead.

With that situation, I believe it would be better to add a new page for my exchange links instead of adding new Blogspot template element bloglist because I can have an option to arrange and group them.

Currently, I have these links which I will be updating from time to time. I also have to check my bloglist and post it here.

You may also leave your comment for me to include your site.

A

Adaphobic

E

Elizar Palad dot Com

F

Facebibo

H

Hakuna Matata
Hilario'us

I

Igorotech


J

Jehzlau Concepts

L

Life Moto

M

Mind Talk
Maki Eduardo
Mr. Pau 
My Soap Box
Miss AiE

P
Paolo Dome

Pinay Chicken Heart
Powcaster
S
Siojo
Scooter Reviews

T

Techno Techniques
Tinnitus Treatment
Trizzone
The Daily Blah

W

Weng Cariaga

Y

Yooray

I'm a Baker now

I'm proud to say that I am a baker.

Wanna know more? Well it all started when on my last post "Framework or CMS?" It's a nice feeling that I'm free from looking for extensions on a certain cms and trying to fit into my needs. It all ended when i discover the power of framework =).

It's almost 2 months since my last post and it's worth noting that i spent those days researching more about frameworks. My first encounter was Agavi, i read and read and read their manual and it seems that i won't enjoy using it. Then i research again just to satisfy my cravings on knowledge and I landed to CakePHP website. Since then i started my small project, just an intranet application intended to our local users in the office.

Features:
An on-line contacts directory. I find it necessary to all offices to have this kind of system since the task of looking for contacts and numbers etc is almost done everyday. It would be tedious to open your spreadsheet file from time to time and press Ctrl+F just to find the number and then open someone's directory just to check if he had the number your looking for. Applying it on an intranet is so easy if you have the right tools and eagerness to do the task. The feature is now working as what i did on MSAccess. Though i've done a contacts directory before( using MSAccess) i realized it's not that interesting anymore to do the same. You would feel bored if you would just do it over and over again. Btw, i used ajax on my search option. it's cute though.

Daily Time Record. I happened to chat with someone who told me that "don't take it so hard". He is suggesting me to do it on visual basic or any other else. Well, im not like him. I'm already done with my DTR using Cakephp. Isn't it nice to know that after a day or two i'm done with its core function? For me, it doesn't matter if i suffer myself just coding a simple program or easily be done in Visual Basic or MSAccess, more importantly is to achieved my goals.

Can't think of any other words to spread to world right now. My next plan right now is to learn CodeIgniter. Another PHP framework. Anyway, these frameworks helps us developers to develop web apps in rapid way.

As for my ending, Don't stop learning new things. Whether you need it now or you won't. Just learn.

Framework or CMS?

Recently, have a chance to chat with a friend with robust experience in web development. Modesty aside a late bloomer than me when it comes to programming but he's great in web development. For me, whether you' re ahead or not in any computing technology it doesn't matter so long as can give what were asked from you. After a few chat he brainwashed with using framework instead of existing CMS. Maybe next time he will encourage me to develop my own framework.

On my last post I've tackled most common CMS around. All of them are great in their own way and make them successful based on the needs of their users. Maybe because of someone's review which make it more appealing to them. Day came along when i really need to develop my own CMS, basically i have developed a (maybe) non-secured one which only handles basic contents, displays pictures, list of contacts and etc. but i really don't have an idea regarding CMS's framework. I only knew MVC in Joomla! For a while i give a try on creating Joomla! components but in the middle of studying it i gave up because you have to do some hacking to really satisfy yourself specifically on ACL. Note: There's a component for ACL but it's for commercial. Not Free!

Weeks of researching and beta testing CMS's drupal, joomla, xoops and among others, i realized they don't fit to what i really wanted to have. Honestly, i was half-satisfied with Drupal's vocabulary & taxonomy (content's categorization and sub-categorization). It's cool but how bout giving me the freedom to delegate my own Role-Based Access Control? Please don't be mad at me drupalist. I know there are maybe modules on the corner of Drupal's site but can't hardly find it. But if i code my own component or module then it will be better and easy for me than walking-through their codes. Well, as planned few days ago will developed my own CMS but for the meantime i will be studying frameworks. I will stepped down from CMS to framework.

I know there are battles between CMSes. As a small time developer I can't easily embrace one's CMS's which give me a lot of headache. I can say that i will embrace PHP instead of saying i will embrace Joomla or whatever CMS is that. Now, i will be observing another battle. I will mention on my next post what are those key players in Framework technology.

So, well have a good time next.


MVC - Model View Controller
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Model-view-controller
RBAC - Role Based Access Control
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RBAC
ACL - Access Control List
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Access_control_list

Module - usually a sub-program of a system. (depends on systems using it)
Components-same with modules.

Module in other CMS differs a lot so don't get confused. Joomla! uses modules as sticky blocks on webpages while it's termed as Blocks in Drupal/Xoops and some others.

Joomla or Drupal?

It's another day to me now and it's my second day of studying Drupal CMS/CMF.. It's been a long weekend to me learning the code of Joomla and i still i didn't get what i've been trying to code. Trying this, trying that. Removing this, adding that and everything, posting it Joomla! forums and still didn't get any luck. Anyway, that is our task as open-source system users. But if only API's are well documented then it wouldn't be that hard for us to contribute.

I happened to try other CMS like Xoops and Impress last weekdays and found them the same and honestly i liked them but not enough to satisfy my cravings =). Well, i have here my simple comparison of the CMS i've tried in the past couple of days.

CMS Program : Joomla

Lacking : Content
sub-categorization
GACL like other CMS.

Advantage : Lots of components to use..
Easy to install components, modules and plugins
Organized components and modules at Joomla!'s website.

Comments : Very user friendly
easy to learn&use.
Joomla! core dev
should also focus on
GACL and good content management

www.joomla.org


CMS : Drupal

Lacking default WYSIWG editor

No content approval
or publisher by default
and have to find a module
for your users to access
content administration.

Click & run installation of modules..

Advantage Really good GACL
Good content sub-categorization
Also a CMF.

Comments : Should have at least one WYSIWYG editor on its package.
I believe it's better to have the modules easily installed.

www.drupal.org


CMS : Xoops

Lacking : Good rendering of WYSIWYG

Advantage : News modules


Comments: I've tried to install
FCKeditor but does not
render very well especially on table.

www.xoops.org

CMS: Impress
Same with Xoops..

www.impresscms.org

CMS : Exponentcms

Lacking : Teaser for contents
Workflow policy does not function very well.
GACL like what Xoops and Drupal have.
Does not use CSS
Advantage : Easy to use. You'll enjoy creating pages/sub-pages.

Comments : Good for simple websites.
I've tried to limit users from publishing but still no hope for me.

www.exponentcms.org

Since I have not yet decided which is best for me, let me just summarize everything.

If you want a good content management system with minimal sections and no sub-level categories and very enticing appearance you should try Joomla.

Drupal, Xoops and Impress are very well recommended to those didn't enjoy Joomla!'s content sub-categorization and who didn't like its GACL implementation.

I will recommend Exponentcms to those who want to have a not so complicated website's content.

My next post will be comparison of the CMS above regarding on development of sub-package and templates. I just hope you enjoy what i have here. I know there's a lot of CMS out there and if i'll have more time i'll give a try.

Note: These are just based on my personal experience. Comments are accepted here.

Terms:

GACL - Generic Access Control Lists

CMS - Content Management System
CMF - Content Management Framework